My kids love mince pies, Poppy adores really strong mince meat and Charlie prefers your bog standard variety.
I probably should make my own but I never have. Scrap that, why should I make my own – life is too short and you can buy such lovely mincemeat in supermarkets.
For me what makes a mince pie is the pastry. I don’t like sweet it has to be really short and crumbly.
Hands up – I am a snob about this, but shop made mince pies just never taste nice. You can give me Waitrose, Fortnum and Mason, Deluxe, economy to me they are never the same as a lovingly baked homemade one – I appreciate the Christmas police may now be hating on me!!
I always use my mums pastry recipe – without fail its delicious.
This recipe depends on how big your cutters are and how thick you like your pastry. If there are leftovers stick them in the freezer.
340g flour
170g salted butter room temp
1 egg
Teaspoon of cinnamon
Small pack of flaked almonds
Jar of mincemeat
Preheat your oven to 170 degrees centigrade
Mix the butter, eggs, cinnamon and flour together until a dough is formed.
Stick it in a bowl in the fridge for 30 mins to cool.
Once cool roll out out and cut in to shapes
Add the mincemeat and sprinkle almonds all over the top instead of a top
Cook in the oven for 10 – 15 mins, my oven is playing up so check after 10 – if they are golden then they are ready
Serve warm with cream or eat cold with a warming cup of tea
